Photographic camera system

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.

This application is a division U.S. Serial No. 08/958,839 filed Oct. 28,1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,067, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No.08/645,030 filed May 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,991, which is adivision of U.S. Ser. No. 08/426,113 filed Apr. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,570,147, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 08/333,593 filedNov. 2, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,430, which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 08/026,415 filed Mar. 4, 1993, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photographic camera system forproducing pictures having various frame sizes, and more particularly toa photographic camera using a specialized photographic film and a filmprinting device for printing the processed photographic film having asuccession of frames of different sizes that have been photographed bythe camera.

2. Description of the Background

The photographic film that is in the most widespread use today is 35-mmfilm (system 135) as provided for by Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)and International Organization of Standardization (IOS).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908 describes a photographic camera and a filmtherefor, with the film being of a 35-mm size devoid of sprocket holesof the size used in present 35-mm films and having an effective imagearea of about 30 mm across the film, thereby providing an increasedeffective usable film area.

More specifically, ignoring dimensional tolerances, present 35-mm filmsfor use in general photography have a width of 35 mm between oppositelongitudinal edges and include a series of film-transport perforationsor sprocket holes defined along the opposite longitudinal edges of thefilm. The film-transport perforations are spaced 25 mm across the filmand have a pitch of 4.75 mm. Frames on such a present 35-mm film are ofa rectangular shape having a width of 25 mm across the film and a lengthof 36 mm along the film. The frames have a pitch of 38 mm, which iseight times larger than the pitch of the film-transport perforations.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908, some modern photographic filmcameras are electronically controlled to provide motor-driven operationwith high accuracy, and it has been experimentally confirmed that thefilm can be transported quite accurately without requiring the largesprocket wheels and film perforations that are found in most presentcameras and films. In the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908,the film-transport perforations are not present in the 35-mmphotographic film, thereby increasing the available frame width acrossthe film up to the regions where such film-transport perforations werelocated. The proposed film thus has an increased effective image areafor improved image quality. This patent describes four sizes that areavailable for frames that can be exposed on a 35-mm film free offilm-transport perforations.

According to one size, a frame that can be exposed in an effective imagearea of the 35-mm film has a width of 30 mm across the film and a lengthof 40 mm along the film. The frames of such a size have a pitch of 42.0mm, for example. The frame size and pitch are selected to matchspecifications of the present television broadcasting system, forexample, the NTSC system. Therefore, the frames have an aspect ratio of3:4.

Another frame size described in that patent is based on High-DefinitionTelevision (HDTV) specifications, in which frames have a width of 30 mmand a length of 53.3 mm and a pitch of 57.75 mm, for example. The aspectratio of the frames having that size is 9:16.

The above-mentioned frame sizes are full-frame sizes, and the other twoframe sizes are half-frame sizes. According to one of the half-framesizes, frames have a width of 30 mm and a length of 22.5 mm and a pitchof 26.2 mm, for example, to match present television broadcasting systemspecifications. According to the other half-frame size, frames have awidth of 30 mm and a length of 16.9 mm and a pitch of 21.0 mm, forexample, to match HDTV specifications.

Film with the above four frame formats is stored in the same filmcartridge as presently available 35-mm film.

Because the frames in either of the above frame formats have a width of30 mm, there are unexposed areas of about 2.5 mm between the frames andalong the opposite longitudinal edges of the film. These unexposed areasmay be used to keep the film flat, control the film, and write and readdata when taking pictures.

The proposed camera may be relatively small and lightweight, because itdoes not require film-transport sprocket wheels.

Films that are actually collected in processing laboratories areprocessed either simultaneously in a batch or individually. In asimultaneous batch process, several thousand films are processed perhour at a high rate to realize economics of scale for reducing theprinting cost. Specifically, a plurality of exposed films are collectedin the processing laboratory and are spliced end to end to form a long,continuous film strip, which is then stored in a film magazine andsubsequently processed.

If the films that are spliced into the continuous strip contain framesexposed in different frame formats, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,049,908, then the long single film stored in the film magazinecontains different frame sizes, thereby making printing a problem.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,384,774 and 5,066,971 propose cameras capable ofswitching between half and full frame sizes at the time the film isexposed. When film exposed using these proposed cameras is spliced intoa long, single, film strip for simultaneous batch processing, thecontinuous film strip also contains different frame sizes.

The processing laboratories are therefore required to form notchesindicative of frame centers for automatically printing spliced filmswith different frame sizes after they are developed. For example, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,591, a human operator manually notchesa side edge of a spliced film and, hence, the notches are required tocontrol the feed of the film. With the disclosed process, it isimpossible to process several thousand films per hour, however, the costof processing exposed film is relatively high. As a consequence, filmswith different frame sizes may not be accepted by processinglaboratories in Japan.

Many processing laboratories all over the world also do not accept filmswith frames exposed in half size because they do not want differentframe sizes to be contained in a single spliced film that is stored in asingle film magazine for subsequent processing and printing. Thisproblem arises because the different frame sizes can be recognized onlyafter the film has been developed. One solution would be to applymarking seals to exposed films so that the films of different framesizes thereof can be distinguished and sorted out for individualprocessing and printing. Nevertheless, use of marking seals would notessentially solve the problem, because it would be difficult to supplysuch marking seals consistently over a number of years.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide avariable frame size photographic system that can eliminate theabove-noted drawbacks inherent in prior proposed systems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a photographiccamera that can expose a photographic film in different frame sizes asdesired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographicfilm printer for automatically printing successive photographic films,even if they contain different frame sizes.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aphotographic camera system including a photographic camera having acamera body, a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing aphotographic film cartridge, a second housing disposed in the camerabody for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographic filmcartridge, a film feed device disposed in the camera body for feedingthe photographic film between the first and second housings, an exposuredevice disposed in the camera body for exposing an exposure area of thephotographic film fed by the film feed device to an image of a subjectbetween the first and second housings, and a recording device disposedin the camera body for recording an exposure position control signalindicative of a position where the photographic film is to be exposed bythe exposure device on the photographic film. The photographic camerasystem also includes a photographic film printer having a printer body,a detecting device disposed on the printer body for detecting theexposure position control signal recorded on the photographic film, afilm feed control device disposed on the printer body for controllingfeeding of the photographic film based on the exposure position controlsignal detected by the detecting device, and a printing device disposedon the printer body for varying an opening width of a mask that is usedto print the image of the subject in the exposure area of thephotographic film on a print paper, depending on the exposure positioncontrol signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a photographic camera including a first housing for housing aphotographic film cartridge, a second housing for housing a photographicfilm drawn from the photographic film cartridge, a film feed device forfeeding the photographic film between the first and second housings, anexposure device for exposing an exposure area of the photographic filmfed by the film feed device to an image of a subject, and a recordingdevice for recording an exposure position control signal indicative of aposition where the photographic film is to be exposed by the exposuredevice on the photographic film.

In another aspect the present invention provides a photographic cameraincluding a camera body, a first housing disposed in the camera body forhousing a photographic film cartridge, a second housing disposed in thecamera body for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographicfilm cartridge, a film feed device disposed in the camera body forfeeding the photographic film between the first and second housings, anexposure device disposed in the camera body for varying a width in whichthe photographic film is exposed to an image of a subject in a directionin which the photographic film is fed by the film feed device, betweenthe first and second housings, and a control unit disposed in the camerabody for controlling the film feed device to feed the photographic filmfor a length corresponding to an increase in the width, at least whenthe width of the frame is increased.

The present invention in another aspect also provides a photographicfilm printer including a printer body, a detecting device disposed onthe printer body for detecting an exposure position control signalrecorded on a photographic film, a film feed control unit disposed onthe printer body for controlling feeding of the photographic film basedon the exposure position control signal detected by the detectingdevice, and a printing device disposed on the printer body for varyingan opening width of the mask that is used to print an image of a subjectin an exposure area of the photographic film on a print paper, dependingon the exposure position control signal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description ofillustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent thesame or similar objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a 35-mm film that hasbeen exposed using a 35-mm photographic camera according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another 35-mm filmthat has been exposed using an embodiment of the 35-mm photographiccamera of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevational views of 35-mm film cartridges that canbe used in the 35-mm photographic camera embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the 35-mm photographic camera ofthe embodiment of the present invention with a rear lid removed;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an inner surface of a rear lid of the35-mm photographic camera of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI--VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system used in the embodiment ofthe 35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the camera shownin FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9A through 9E are fragmentary front elevational views showing thepositional relationships of frames exposed on a 35-mm film using theembodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of an automatic printer for printing onphotosensitive paper a 35-mm film exposed using the embodiment of the35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system used in the embodiment ofthe automatic printer shown in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are fragmentary front elevational views showing therelationship between a 35-mm film and sensors in the automatic printershown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an operating method that is performed by amicroprocessor of the control system shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are representative of the relative sizes ofnegative-carrier variable slits in the automatic printer;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are representation showing the relative sizes ofvariable paper masks in the automatic printer;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of a 35-mm photographic camera with arear lid removed, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of a 35-mm photographic camera with arear lid removed, according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A 35-mm photographic film 1 that can be used in a 35-mm photographiccamera according to the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B, in which FIGS. 1 and 2 show 35-mm photographicfilm 1 after it has been exposed, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show 35-mmphotographic film 1 before it is exposed.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the 35-mm photographic film 1 is stored ina film cartridge 16 and has an end extending out of the film cartridge16. Images that are photographed on the 35-mm photographic film 1 areturned upside down by the lenses, so that the upper end of an image ispositioned on a lower portion of the photographic film 1. FIG. 3B showsby way of example a photographed image of a subject in broken lines,which appears to be turned upside down on the photographic film 1.

Each of the photographic films 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B has aseries of film position detecting holes 19 defined along an unexposedmarginal edge area thereof, which has a width of about 2.5 mm. The filmposition detecting holes 19 have a diameter of about 1 mm and are spacedat a constant, predetermined pitch. The pitch of the film positiondetecting holes 19 in the photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 1 is 5.25mm, for example, and the pitch of the film position detecting holes 19in the photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 2 is 6.28 mm.

Distances by which the different photographic films 1 with the filmposition detecting holes 19 spaced at the pitches of 5.25 mm and 6.28 mmare advanced to feed frames of different frame sizes are given in Table1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Frame sizes (Width ×                                                                   Pitch - 6.28 mm                                                                            Pitch = 5.25 mm                                   length)                                                                       NTSC-matched frame                                                                           43.96 = 6.28 × 7                                                                     42.0 = 5.25 × 8                             size (30 mm × 40                                                                       pitches      pitches                                           mm), full size                                                                HDTV-matched frame                                                                           56.52 = 6.28 × 9                                                                     57.75 = 5.25 × 11                           size (30 mm × 53.3                                                                     pitches      pitches                                           mm), full size                                                                HDTV-matched frame                                                                           18.84 = 6.28 × 3                                                                     21.0 = 5.25 × 4                             size (30 mm × 16.9                                                                     pitches      pitches                                           mm), half size                                                                NTSC-matched frame                                                                           25.12 = 6.28 × 4                                                                     26.25 - 5.25 × 5                            size (30 mm × 22.5                                                                     pitches      pitches                                           mm), half size                                                                ______________________________________                                    

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3A has film position detectingholes 19 that will be positioned along an upper marginal edge area afterthe photographic film is exposed, however, no tongue is provided at theleading end, so that no tongue-removing process will subsequently berequired. Because no tongue-removing process will be required, thesubsequent processing of the photographic film 1 is less costly.

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3B also has film positiondetecting holes 19 that will be positioned in an upper marginal edgearea thereof after the photographic film is exposed, and has a tongue atits leading end on its lower portion. The tongue at the leading end ofthe photographic film 1 is vertically opposite in position to the tongueof an ordinary 35-mm photographic film that is now generallycommercially available. If a photocoupler is used in a photographiccamera for detecting the film position detecting holes 19, then when thephotographic film 1 is loaded into the photographic camera, the marginaledge with the film position detecting holes 19 is not required to bemanually inserted into the photocoupler, but is automatically insertedinto the photocoupler when the photographic film 1 is wound by a filmtransport mechanism in the photographic camera.

An embodiment of a photographic camera that can use the photographicfilms 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B is shown and described withreference to FIGS. 4 through 8. FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of thephotographic camera with the rear lid or removed. The lid is shown inFIG. 5. The photographic camera has a dark box 4 including a cartridgehousing 17 for housing the film cartridge 16, which is of a knownstructure, an exposure opening 7 near the cartridge housing 17 andthrough which the photographic film 1 can be exposed to light passingthrough a camera lens, aperture, and shutter not shown in FIG. 4, and afilm housing 18 for housing the photographic film 1 after it has beenexposed.

The photographic film 1 that is unwound from the film cartridge 16housed in the cartridge housing 17 is fed over the exposure opening 7while being transversely limited in motion by upper and lower respectivepairs of film guides 30, 31, and is then moved into the film housing 18after being exposed.

The film housing 18 has a guide roller 32 for automatically setting orloading the photographic film 1, and a film takeup spool 9 rotatable bya motor, shown at 10 in FIG. 7, for winding the exposed photographicfilm 1 thereon.

The photographic camera has a light-emitting diode (LED) 5a positionedbetween the lower film guides 30, 31 for detecting the film positiondetecting holes 19, and a photodetector, shown in FIG. 5 at 5b, disposedon a pressure plate of the rear lid and positioned in registry with theLED 5a across the photographic film 1. The photodetector 5b has adiameter of 1.5 mm, for example.

The LED 5a emits infrared radiation having a wavelength of 940 nm, whichis different from those radiation wavelengths to which the photographicfilm 1 is sensitive. Referring to FIG. 7, the LED 5a and thephotodetector 5b jointly make up a hole sensor 5 that applies an outputsignal to a counter in a system controller 8 that comprises amicrocomputer. In this way, the system controller 8 can recognize theposition of the photographic film 1 over the exposure opening 7. The LED5a and the photodetector 5b may be alternatively replaced with aphotocoupler that also comprises an LED and a photodetector but whichare positioned in confronting relationship, as described hereinbelow.

In FIG. 4, the exposure area opening 7 has its size defined by left andright movable masks 15 that are laterally movable over the width of theexposure opening 7 from opposite sides thereof. The size of the exposureopening 7 in the longitudinal direction of the photographic film 1 canselectively be changed to four different dimensions of 53.33 mm, 40.00mm, 22.5 mm, and 16.90 mm as indicated by the four pairs of broken linesin FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the left and right movable masks 15 areretractable into left and right side walls, respectively, that arepositioned on opposite sides of the exposure opening 7 and extendsubstantially perpendicularly to the photographic film 1 as it extendsover the exposure opening 7. As shown in FIG. 7, two linear toothed bars33 are attached to the respective lower edges of the movable masks 15and held in mesh with respective drive feed gears 34 of a gearbox 35,much like a rack and pinion assembly. When the gears 34 of the gearbox35 are driven to rotate the linear toothed bars 33, and hence themovable masks 15, are linearly moved over the exposure opening 7.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the photographic camera has a frame sizesetting switch 6 which can manually be turned by the user of the camerato produce a command signal indicative of a selected frame size which isone of the frame sizes described above in Table 1. When the user selectsa frame size with the frame size setting switch 6, the frame sizesetting switch 6 applies a command signal to the system controller 8,which then supplies a control signal to achieve the desired frame sizethrough a stepping motor driving circuit 13 to a stepping motor 14. Thestepping motor 14 is energized to rotate the feed gears 34 to move themovable masks 15.

At the same time that the movable masks 15 move, the hole sensor 5produces and supplies a detected film position signal to the systemcontroller 8, which processes the supplied film position signal togenerate a control signal. The system controller 8 then supplies thecontrol signal through an amplifier 36 to a motor 10, which rotates thefilm spool 9 to take-up the photographic film 1 over a predeterminedlength.

At this time, the length over which the photographic film 1 is drivencorresponds to the distance that is determined by the frame size settingswitch 6. The feeding of the photographic film 1 is described below withreference to FIGS. 9A through 9E, which show examples in which the holepitch is 6.28 mm and the photographic film 1 is to be exposed in anHDTV-matched full-frame size of 30 mm×53.3 mm and an NTSC-matchedfull-frame size of 30 mm×40 mm.

FIG. 9A shows a portion of the photographic film 1 as it is exposed insuccessive NTSC-matched full frames. When the photographic film 1 is fedfor seven pitches of the holes 19, a frame area of 30 mm×40 mm is madeavailable for exposure through the exposure opening 7. To switch from anNTSC-matched full-frame size to an HDTV-matched full-frame size, thephotographic film 1 is fed for eight pitches of the holes 19, as shownin FIG. 9B, to make a frame area of 30 mm×53.3 mm available for exposurethrough the exposure opening 7. To expose the photographic film 1 insuccessive HDTV-matched full frames, the photographic film 1 is fed fornine pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9C, to make a frame areaof 30 mm×53.3 mm available for exposure through the exposure opening 7.To switch from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to an NTSC-matchedfull-frame size, the photographic film 1 is fed for eight pitches of theholes 19, as shown in FIG. 9D, to make a frame area of 30 mm×40 mmavailable for exposure through the exposure opening 7.

To change frame sizes, the system controller 8 controls the motor 10 asfollows: When switching from an NTSC-matched full-frame size to anHDTV-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first drivenfor seven pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven for one additionalhole pitch. When switching from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to anNTSC-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first drivenforward for nine pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven backward forone pitch.

When changing frame sizes, the photographic film 1 may be driven for adifferent distance or a different number of pitches, such as ten pitchesof the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9E. In this manner, the photographicfilm 1 may be easily exposed in many different frame sizes.

As shown in FIGS. 9A through 9E, the system controller of thephotographic camera controls the feeding of the photographic film 1 suchthat the photographic film 1 will not be exposed in overlapping frames,even when different frame sizes are exposed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the photographic film 1 whose effectiveexposure areas have been exposed in frames 3 of different sizes. In FIG.1, the photographic film 1 has been exposed in an HDTV-matchedfull-frame size, having a width of 30 mm, a length of 53.3 mm, andaspect ratio of 9:16, and in an NTSC-matched full-frame size, having awidth of 30 mm, a length of 40 mm) whose aspect ratio is 3:4. The holes19 defined along the upper marginal edge of the photographic film 1 havea pitch of 5.25 mm.

In FIG. 2, the photographic film 1 has also been exposed in anHDTV-matched full-frame size and an NTSC-matched full-frame size,however, unlike FIG. 1, the holes 19 defined in the upper marginal edgeof the photographic film 1 have a pitch of 6.28 mm. In FIG. 2, one frameof an HDTV-matched full-frame size corresponds nine pitches of the holes19, and one frame of an NTSC-matched full-frame size corresponds sevenpitches of the holes 19. Since these pitches are odd-numbered, a hole 19may be positioned in alignment with the center of the frame, so that thecenter of the frame can easily be detected.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the photographic camera has a shutter releasebutton 37. When the shutter release button 37 is depressed, the systemcontroller 8 controls the size of the exposure area and supplies acontrol signal to a mark recording circuit 38 for recording a centralmark, a so-called effective exposure area position signal, indicative ofthe center of the frame 3 and also supplies a control signal to a framenumber recording circuit 39 for recording a frame number.

The mark recording circuit 38 energizes an LED 40 positioned at thelower film-guide pair 30, 31 for recording a central mark 40a, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, representing the center of the exposed frame 3. The framenumber recording circuit 39 energizes an LED 41 positioned at the lowerfilm guide pair 30, 31 for recording a frame number 41a, shown in FIGS.1 and 2, representing the frame number of the exposed frame 3. The framenumber 41a can be recorded such that it agrees with an actual framenumber.

The system controller 8 also supplies a control signal to a frame sizerecording circuit 11 for recording a frame size signal, a so-calledeffective exposure area width signal, indicative of the frame size ofthe exposed frame 3. The frame size recording circuit 11 energizes anLED 12 positioned at the lower film guide pair 30, 31 for recording aframe size signal 12a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The LED 12 may be composed of four LED elements which are selectivelyenergized to record one of frame size signals 12a, which represent theframe size set by the frame size setting switch 6. The various framesize signals 12a are shown by way of example in Table 2 below.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Frame Size        Frame size signal 12a                                       ______________________________________                                        HDTV-matched full-frame size                                                                    ||||                    NTSC-matched full-frame size                                                                    |||                              NTSC-matched half-frame size                                                                    ||                                        HDTV-matched half-frame size                                                                    |                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The central mark 40a and the frame size signal 12a supply informationregarding the frame position and the frame size to an automatic printer,described hereinbelow, for controlling the automatic printer when theexposed and processed film is printed.

While frame sizes can be recognized by measuring the distances betweenadjacent central marks 40a when the exposed film is printed, theprocessing speed of the automatic printer can be increased by using theframe size signal 12a.

At the same time that the photographic film 1 is exposed, the systemcontroller 8 supplies an information signal to an information recordingcircuit 42 for recording desired information. The information recordingcircuit 42 energizes an LED 43 positioned at the upper film guide pair30, 31 for recording such information 43a on the lower marginal edge,shown in see FIGS. 1 and 2, of the photographic film 1. The information43a may be information that is supplied from the camera lens and thecamera itself upon exposure or could consist of the exposure date, theperson who took the picture, an exposure condition, or other informationthat the user has entered through an input device 44, such as a keypad,on the outer surface of the rear lid of the camera body 10. The amountof information 43a, that is, the number of characters that can berecorded, is dependent upon the frame size, and is displayed on adisplay panel 44a of the input device 44. The LED 43 has a number of LEDelements that are selectively energized depending on the frame size.

An analysis has been made to determine the optimum position where theinformation 43a should be recorded and the optimum position where theholes 19 are defined from the standpoints of the user's convenience anda psychological effect that those positions have on the user. Theresults of the analysis are as follows:

(1) If marginal edges outside of the effective exposure area of the filmare available as a band for recording user's information, then theinformation should more preferably be positioned on the lower marginaledge of the print paper, rather than on the upper marginal edge.

(2) Study of the developing and printing processes in processinglaboratories indicates that in many cases information about the filmitself is printed in many cases on film negatives, such that the filminformation will be positioned on the upper marginal edge of the printpaper. It is preferable not to mix the film information and the band forrecording user's information.

From the above results, it is preferable to position the film positiondetecting holes 19 upwardly of the effective exposure area of the filmwhen it is exposed.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, the photographiccamera according to the present invention has a detecting means 5a, 5bfor detecting the feeding of the photographic film 1, a film controlsystem 8, 9, 10 for controlling the distance by which the photographicfilm 1 moves and for driving the photographic film 1 for a lengthcorresponding to the width of the selected exposure opening 7, based ona detected signal from the detecting means 5a, 5b, and for controlling asignal recording device 8, 11, 12, 38, 40 disposed near the exposureopening 7 for recording a signal indicative of the position of theexposure opening 7 on the photographic film 1 when the photographic film1 is exposed through the exposure opening 7.

After the photographic film 1 is exposed using the photographic camera,the processed photographic film 1 bears control signals that arerecorded in a signal recording area 21, shown in see FIG. 1, thereof andthat will be used when the photographic film 1 is printed. Therefore,even if the developed photographic film 1 contains frames of differentframe sizes, it can be automatically printed by an automatic printerwithout requiring individual adjustment.

The photographic camera according to the present invention also has afilm control system 8, 9, 10 for controlling the feeding or driving ofthe photographic film 1, and an opening control system 8, 13, 14, 15 forvarying the width of the exposure opening 7 along the photographicfilm 1. At least when the width of the exposure opening 7 changes from asmaller dimension to a larger dimension, the film control system 8, 9,10 drives the photographic film 1 for a length corresponding to theselected width of the exposure opening 7.

Therefore, the width of the exposure opening 7 is variable, and thetake-up or driving of the photographic film 1 is controlled depending onthe width of the exposure opening 7. The photographic camera can exposethe photographic film 1 successively in desired frame sizes which maydiffer one from another without adjacent frames overlapping each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic film 1 used in the photographiccamera according to the present invention has a signal recording area 21located between an effective exposure area 20 and a marginal edgethereof for recording control signals, which will be used when thephotographic film 1 is processed and printed. The film 1 also has holes19 defined in an upper marginal edge area thereof between the effectiveexposure area 20 and the marginal edge for detecting the distance bywhich the photographic film 1 has been moved.

As shown in FIG. 10, an automatic printer for. automatically printingprocessed photographic film 1 that has been exposed using a camera asdescribed above has a printer body that supports a paper supply reel 45for supplying the sensitized print paper 46, a paper deck or platen 47for supporting the print paper 46 supplied from the paper supply reel45, a variable paper mask 48 for determining the size of a print papersegment on which an image is to be printed, a paper holder plate 49 forholding the print paper 46 down against the paper deck 47, a paper feedor drive roller 50 for driving the print paper 46, and a paper takeupreel 51 for winding the exposed print paper 46.

The printer body of the automatic printer also supports a film supplyreel 52 for supplying the processed photographic film 1, a film deck orplaten 53 for supporting the photographic film 1 supplied from the filmsupply reel 52, a negative-carrier variable slit 54, a negative holderplate 55 for positioning the negative down against the film deck 53, afilm feed or drive roller 56 for driving the photographic film 1, a filmtakeup reel 57 for winding the exposed and processed photographic film1, a lens 58 positioned above the negative holder plate 55, a bellows 59supporting the lens 58 and positioned below the paper deck 47, a lamp 60disposed below the film deck 53, a black shutter 61 positioned above thelamp 60, a filter assembly 62 composed of yellow, magenta, and cyan (Y,M, C) filters, and a diffusion box 63 disposed between the filterassembly 62 and the film deck 53.

The negative holder plate 55 supports a frame size sensor S1 fordetecting the frame size signal 12a recorded on the photographic film 1and a frame center sensor S2 for detecting the central mark 40a recordedon the photographic film 1 that indicates the center of a frame.

Upon detection of the central mark 40a of the frame 3 with the framecenter sensor S2, the film drive roller 56 is controlled to drive thefilm to align the frame center with the center of the negative-carriervariable slit 54. The variable paper mask 48 and the negative-carriervariable slit 54 are controlled based on the frame size signal 12a thatis detected by the frame size sensor S1.

If the frame size is an HDTV-matched frame size, for example, thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG.14A, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shown inFIG. 15A. If the frame size is an NTSC-matched frame size, for example,the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown inFIG. 14B, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shownin FIG. 15B.

A control system for the automatic printer is shown in FIG. 11, in whichthe frame size sensor S1 and the frame center sensor S2 comprisephotocouplers, respectively, for detecting the frame size signal 12a andthe central mark 40a, respectively, that are recorded in the marginaledge area of the photographic film 1.

The frame center is determined based on the central mark 40a detected bythe frame center sensor S2, and the frame size of the frame 3 whoseframe center is determined by a microprocessor 64 of the control systembased on the frame size signal 12a that is read by the frame size sensorS1 before the central mark 40a is detected by the frame center sensorS2. Then, the microprocessor 64 controls a mask size drive motor M3 toactuate the variable paper mask 48 to conform with the determined framesize. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls anegative-carrier variable slit drive motor M2 to actuate thenegative-carrier variable slit 54.

Based on the frame size signal 12A read by the frame size sensor S1, themicroprocessor 64 controls a film feed motor M1 to rotate the film feelroller 56 for feeding the photographic film 1 for a predeterminedlength. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls a paper feedmotor M4 to rotate the paper feed roller 50 for thereby feeding theprint paper 46 for a predetermined length.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show the relationship between the photographic film 1,the frame center sensor S2, and the frame size sensor S1 in theautomatic printer. When the photographic film 1 is driven in thedirection indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 12A, a frame size signal 12ais detected by the frame size sensor S1 before its frame 3 is positionedfor controlling of the driving of the photographic film 1, thenegative-carrier variable slit 54, and the variable paper mask 48. Theframe size signal 12a is processed by the microprocessor 64, whichdetermines the frame size when the frame center of the frame 3 isdetermined.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the central mark 40A indicative of aframe center is recorded at each frame on the photographic film 1. Ateach frame, the frame size signal 12a is recorded ahead of the centralmark 40a, and the frame number 41a is recorded behind the central mark40a with respect to the direction in which the photographic film 1 isdriven.

While the frame center sensor S2 and the frame size sensor S1 are shownas being located in substantially the same position, only the framecenter sensor S2 should be positioned in alignment with the center ofthe negative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48,and the frame size sensor S1 may be positioned on the film deck 53 atthe entrance end thereof.

FIG. 13 shows a control sequence of the microprocessor 64 forcontrolling the driving of the developed photographic film or negative 1and the driving of the print paper 46. The negative-carrier variableslit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are also controlled in thiscontrol sequence. The photographic film 1 is continuously driven andtaken up until the central mark 40a is detected by the frame centersensor S2, an then the photographic film 1 is stopped when the centralmark 40a is detected by the frame center sensor S2. Until thephotographic film 1 is stopped, the frame size signal 12a is detected bythe frame size sensor S1 and its number is counted.

If the frame size signal 12a represents "3", the width of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 38 mm, and the width of thevariable paper mask 48 is set to 119 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which thecontrol sequence is ended. The print paper 46 is moved for a distancecorresponding to printed frame sizes, a blank surrounding the printedframes, and a cutting blank between the printed frames. Usually, a holeis defined in the cutting blank when the photographic film 1 is printed,and serves as a positional signal for automatically cutting the printpaper.

If the frame size signal 12a represents "4", the width of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 51 mm, and the width of thevariable paper mask 48 is set to 158 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which thecontrol sequence is ended.

If the frame size signal 12a represents "1" or "2", the widths of thenegative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are setsimilarly. Thereafter, the print paper 46 is moved, and the photographicfilm 1 is printed, after which the control sequence is ended.

Since the frame size signal 12a is recorded in the upper marginal edgeportion of the photographic film 1, it may possibly be recognized inerror as the central mark 40a. To avoid such an error, a negative feedsensor S3, shown in FIG. 11, for detecting the distance by which thephotographic film 1 is fed is associated with the film feed motor M1,and the distance by which the photographic film 1 is fed is measured bya counter 65 whose count is fed back to the microprocessor 64. Since thewidth of the frame size signal 12a on the photographic film 1 can bedetected by the distance by which the photographic film 1 is driven, theframe size signal 12a can be distinguished from the central mark 40a orthe frame number 41a.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the automaticprinter according to the present invention has a film drive controldevice 65, 64, M1 for detecting an effective exposure area positionsignal 40a recorded in a marginal edge area between the effectiveexposure area 20 on the photographic film 1 and the marginal edgethereof to control the driving of the photographic film 1, and aprinting opening width control device 54, 64, M2 for detecting aneffective exposure area width indicating signal 12a recorded in themarginal edge area to control the width of the printing opening alongthe photographic film 1.

The photographic film 1 has an effective exposure area position signal40a and an effective exposure area width indicating signal 12a which arerecorded in a marginal edge area between the effective exposure area 20on the photographic film 1 and the marginal edge thereof. After theeffective exposure area width indicating signal 12a has been detected,the effective exposure area position signal 40a is detected. The widthof the film exposure opening along the photographic film 1, the width ofthe print paper exposure opening, and the distance by which the printpaper 46 is driven are controlled based on the detected effectiveexposure area width indicating signal 12a, and the distance by which thephotographic film 1 is fed is controlled based on the detected effectiveexposure area position signal 40a.

Therefore, since the distance by which the photographic film 1 is drivenis controlled based on the effective exposure area position signal 40arecorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1 and thewidth of the printing opening, the width of the print paper exposureopening and the distance over which the print paper 46 is driven arecontrolled based on the effective exposure area width indicating signal12a recorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1, thephotographic film 1 can automatically be printed even if it has asuccession of frames of different sizes.

In the illustrated photographic camera, the LED 5a and the photodetector5b are disposed in confronting relationship to each other for detectingthe film position detecting holes 19, however, as shown in FIGS. 16 and17, a photocoupler 66, which is an integral combination of an LED and aphotodetector for detecting a film position, may be disposed on a filmguide 30. The photocoupler 66 may be positioned anywhere on the filmguide 30. The photocoupler 66 may have LEDs 41, 40, as shown in FIG. 4,for recording the frame number 41a and the central mark 40a at the sametime that the frame is exposed.

While the hole sensor 5 comprises an LED and a photodetector in theillustrated photographic camera, the hole sensor 5 may comprise twopairs of an LED and a photodetector given the different distances bywhich frames of different sizes are fed.

In the illustrated automatic printer, the same photographic film containframes of different sizes, however, the present invention is alsoapplicable to an automatic printer for automatically printing a splicedlength of photographic films with different frame sizes.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments and various changes andmodifications could be effected by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photographic film printer for printing an imagein an exposure area of a processed photographic film onto photosensitivepaper, the photographic printer comprising:a printer body; a lightsource and a variable-width mask for exposing the photosensitive paper;film feed means disposed on the printer body for feeding the processedphotographic film; detecting means disposed on the printer body fornon-mechanically detecting in a marginal area of the processedphotographic film a frame number signal and an aspect signal to be usedin printing the image; control means disposed on the printer body andconnected to the film feed means for controlling driving of theprocessed photographic film and for judging whether the detected aspectsignal is correct or not; and printing means disposed on the printerbody for varying an opening width of the variable-width mask used toexpose the image in the exposure area of the processed photographic filmon the photosensitive paper based on the judged aspect signal.
 2. Aphotographic film printer according to claim 1, whereinthe control meansdetermines whether the judged aspect signal corresponds to a firstaspect format or a second aspect format, and the printing means changesthe opening width of the variable-width mask according to the determinedaspect format.
 3. A photographic film printer according to claim 1,wherein the control means controls the film feeding means to locate acenter position of the exposure area of the processed photographic filmbased on a center position of the opening width of the variable-widthmask which changes in accordance with the detected aspect signal.
 4. Aphotographic film printer according to claim 1, wherein the controlmeans controls the opening width of the variable-width mask after thedetected aspect signal is judged to be correct.
 5. A photographic filmprinter according to claim 2, wherein a control signal recorded in themarginal area of the processed photographic film is used in printing theimage and includes the frame number signal and the aspect signal.
 6. Aphotographic camera comprising:a first housing for housing a cartridgecontaining a photographic film strip, the photographic film strip havingfilm positioning holes in a first marginal area thereof; a secondhousing for housing the photographic film strip drawn from thecartridge; film feed means for feeding the photographic film stripbetween the first and second housings; control means including amicro-computer electrically connected to a selector switch operable by auser; and recording means responsive to the micro-computer for recordinga first information input using the selector switch in a second marginalarea of the photographic film strip and for recording in the firstmarginal area of the photographic film strip a second information whichincludes a frame number signal and a print aspect signal to be used inprinting images recorded on the photographic film strip, wherein atleast one of the first and second marginal areas of the photographicfilm strip has film information pre-recorded thereon.
 7. A photographiccamera according to claim 6, wherein the recording means records aprinting control signal in the first marginal area of the photographicfilm strip.
 8. A photographic camera according to claim 7, wherein theprinting control signal includes an exposure condition signal and anauxiliary signal.